Today's Feature

CVB Still Intact.

The Carthage City Council on Tuesday voted to continue its contract with the Carthage Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB) in a 7-2 vote.

Budget Ways and Means Committee chairman Bill Johnson reported to Council that on Monday the committee had met with the CVB to discuss goals and priorities for the future. During that meeting a motion was made by committee member Mike Harris to terminate the City contract with the CVB and to replace the duties with an tourism specialist who would work for the Chamber of Commerce (see yesterday’s Mornin’ Mail for more info). This item was presented to Council without a committee recommendation, as the committee vote was deadlocked 2-2 on the matter.

When it was opened for discussion, Harris said he wished to amend the wording of his motion from "terminating" the contract to "not renewing" the contract. The contract is up for renewal at the end of June, 2007. Council member Ronnie Wells seconded the amendment.

Council member and CVB liason Cindy Curry said that she was not in favor of Harris’ motion, saying that she had not seen any plan of what would happen if the contract was not renewed.

Harris said that the matter had been discussed at a Council retreat on in September of 2006 and that the discussions continue to arise about the efficiency of the current operation. Harris added that he felt having a board of directors governing one CVB employee didn’t make sense, and said that a tourism employee working for the Chamber would be more efficient.

Bill Johnson rebutted that there was a distinct difference between the duties of the CVB and the Chamber of Commerce. Johnson said he feared that combining the two would alienate both boards. He said the motion insinuated that the CVB wasn’t doing what the City wanted.

"I don’t think we should change something that’s working," said Johnson.

CVB Board Chairman Allan VanDenBerg was present at the meeting and was allowed an opportunity to speak during this discussion period. VanDenBerg spoke on the duties and importance of the CVB, saying that since the inception of the organization the CVB director had assisted in the generation of $266 thousand dollars in grant money.

"We don’t want to see that go away," said VanDenBerg.

The CVB is currently without a director following the resignation of Aimee Smith. VanDenBerg said he felt it would be in the best interest of the City to hire a new director and continue forward with the bureau.

Wells said he didn’t feel the problem lied with the CVB but rather with the City not providing the bureau with something to advertise.

"We can’t just depend on Precious Moments," said Wells.

Wells added that he felt the City should decide whether or not it wanted to be a tourist attraction, and if so, proceed with building on the actual attractions.

Council member Larry Ross said he felt the CVB was a dedicated group of people.

"They have done a great job for us," said Ross.

Council member Tom Flanigan said that with a new director came new opportunities for Carthage tourism.

"I don’t want to see an opportunity missed," said Flanigan.

Council member Diane Sharits said she agreed with Wells that the City needed new tourism incentives, but said she did not agree with Harris that the CVB board governs only one person. Sharits said that the board also oversees the money generated by the lodging tax for tourism.

Those who voted in favor of terminating the contract included Mike Harris and Ronnie Wells. Those against the termination included; Diane Sharits, Cindy Curry, Bill Welch, Bill Johnson, Dan Rife, Tom Flanigan and Larry Ross.

Stench Report:

Wednesday,
1/10/07

No Stench Detected on Carthage Square

They say the only way to get a hook that is set deep out is to push it around till the point pokes back outa the skin. Then ya cut off the barb and pull it back out.

Havin’ that knowledge was always comforting, knowin’ how to handle the situation, but I’ve never had the opportunity to actually use it.

I’m thinkin’ that just knowin’ what would have to occur if I hooked myself was the main reason I kept hooks at a distance. Sometimes just knowin’ the consequences is a great deterrent.

I’m still waitin’ for the opportunity to rescue someone, other than myself, from the unfortunate grasps of a fishhook.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Dear Tom and Ray:

I have a 2005 Honda Odyssey that needs new tires after only 32,000 miles. They are run-flat tires. My tire dealer says I cannot just buy new run-flat tires; I have to also replace the rims, and only the dealer can do it. The dealer agrees with the requirement of replacing the rims with the run-flats at a cost of $580 per tire/wheel combination. It this for real - almost $2,400 for new tires?

TOM: Doesn’t that frost your Fruit of the Looms, Mike? Actually, 32,000 miles is pretty good for a set of run-flats.

RAY: We’re seeing a lot of run-flat sticker shock these days. When folks go in for their first set of replacement tires and find out that the tires cost three times as much and last only half as long, they panic.

TOM: And do crazy things ... like write to us!

RAY: Run-flats are expensive. They have additional supports in the sidewall that allow them to hold up the weight of the car, even when there’s no air in them.

TOM: The rims that hold the run-flat tires are specifically designed, too. They have large lips. Like my aunt Brunhilda.

RAY: The larger lip makes mounting any tire on that rim - even the run flats - a challenge.

TOM: Some dealers can’t even mount run-flats because they don’t have the proper machine. You dealer sounds like one of them. If you don’t have the right equipment, you can ruin the tire-pressure monitor that’s built into the valve stem.

RAY: You’d be well-advised to go elsewhere. The run-flat tires for your Odyssey sell for about $240 each. The labor involved in mounting them adds about $100 to the cost. But still, that’s $340 a tire instead of $580.

RACING
By Greg Zyla
Sponsored by Curry Automotive

Is There Racing in Ford’s Future?

Ford Motor Company is facing multi-billion dollar losses, and hopes its reduction in union workforce, plant closures and other moves will better allow it to compete on the domestic front, where its market share has fallen from 25 percent in the early ‘90s to its present 17.6 percent share.

If one believes the Internet blog rumors, Ford could well drop out of Nextel Cup before the first "Car of Tomorrow" race in 2007, or at the end of the year.

However, according to Kevin Kennedy, Ford Racing Technology Public Affairs manager, this is nothing but rumors.

"It’s not true," he says. "As of right now, Ford’s racing support and involvement is fine."

Kennedy explained that Ford’s racing programs provide a good return on investment. Kennedy also points that Ford’s research shows purchase consideration is 72 percent higher for Ford products with race fans than non-race fans.

"That’s a pretty strong number that cannot be ignored, and the market share among race fans to the general population is 46 percent higher."

Numbers like this indicate there is an active, clearly defined and very important race-influenced audience that Ford must market to. Kennedy also admits that race fans are buying more Fords, and buying them more often, and that all the aforementioned reasons make for a good market.